images of the championship parade and celebration. >> thanks for watching. tonight on "world news," shellacking. that's the president's word for the power shift last night. what did he say he'll do differently in the next two years, and what did the republicans promise to do next? pelosi. the powerful and polarizing speaker, on the day after that pummeling night. what did she say she learned? will she stay in congress? our exclusive interview. party. a city long denied its ticker tape parade comes to a stand still as the giants get a heroes welcome. and, postcards. the cart wheels, the crying, the indelible scrapbook of a seismic vote.

and good evening tonight from washington, where we are still learning a lot about what voters were saying yesterday. with that thunderous shift in the house of representatives. more than 60 seats. take a look. the makeup of the house before last night. and now, a tide of red. so, how is the president redesigning his second act after what he called that shellacking? and what about his powerful partner, speaker nancy pelosi, handing her gavel over to john boehner and a lot of new republicans. and what about the diminished majority in the senate? 52 seats for the democrats, 47 for the gop. some races still too close to call. once again, our political team is tracking the news about what is next for american decision making, as we turn first to jake tapper at the white house tonight. good evening, jake. >> reporter: good evening, diane well, in a conference call with supporters late this afternoon,

president obama said there was no sense in sugar coating last night's election results. he said, it was tough. mr. obama said every president needs to have a humbling election night to remind them to reconnect with voters. >> i'm not recommending for every future president that they take a shellacking like i did last night. you know, i'm sure they're easier ways to learn these lessons. >> reporter: so what lessons has he learned? president obama expressed a desire to seek common ground with the new congress. >> i am very eager to sit down with members of both parties and figure out how we can move forward together. >> reporter: as is a long established presidential midterm kabuki. >> the people expect us to work together. >> they demanded that a more equally divided congress work more closely together. >> reporter: for this president, that includes a new willingness to sit down with republicans and discuss extending the bush tax cuts for the wealthy. the president admitted he did not push hard enough for transparency. >> we were in such a hurry to get things done that we didn't change how things got done.

and i think that frustrated people. >> reporter: but the president is not second guessing his agenda. he blamed economic anxiety for the fact that the majority of voters in exit polls say they fear the president's policies will harm the country. >> if right now we had 5% unemployment instead of 9.6% unemployment, then people would have more confidence in those policy choices. >> reporter: at introspective moments, the president reflected on how colleagues he respects were fired by the voters because of their support for his agenda. when you call your friends and you see 19 state legislatures go to the other side, governorships in swing states, the democratic party set back, what does it feel like? >> it feels bad. there is a, not only sadness about seeing them go, but there's also a lot of questioning on my part in terms

of, "could i have done something differently or done something more so that those folks would still be here?" it's hard. >> reporter: the president also suggested he needed to pay closer attention to engaging with voters so they have confidence that he is listening to them, and diane, i know we talked before about the ten letters from average americans the president reads every day. he mentioned them today. he said sometimes they inspire him, sometimes they break his heart, but he said, nobody's filming me reading those letters. diane? >> and he did say, as you said, jake, that he wants to break out of any isolation in the white house. by the way, we now know the turnout. 90 million americans voted yesterday, and that's 5 million more than the last midterm elections. but far less than the brigade of voters who came out for the presidential election. 29 million people who voted for barack obama in 2008 did not show up yesterday. and, yesterday, the independents favored republicans by 15 points. so, what happens next?

jon karl joins us now, he is here in d.c. with the first new moves right up the road here on capitol hill. jon? >> reporter: and they are starting right away, diane. republicans have already set up a transition team as they prepare to take power in the house, and with it, newfound responsibility. incoming speaker john boehner, an olive branch of sorts to president obama. >> the president and i had a very pleasant conversation. we agreed that we needed to listen to the american people. we needed to work together on behalf of the american people. >> reporter: but the message many republicans heard last night is stop obama. not exactly a formula for working together. >> we're determined to stop the agenda americans have rejected and to turn the ship around. we'll work with the administration when they agree with the people and confront them when they do. >> reporter: the new republican congress has real power. control over funding the government and the ability to subpoena officials in the obama administration. come january, john boehner will be the most powerful republican

in the land, a fact that caused him to choke up last night. >> i've spent my whole life chasing the american dream. and when i saw how out of touch washington had become, with the core values of this great nation, i put my name forward and ran for office. >> reporter: with newcomers like kentucky's rand paul -- >> we've come to take our government back. >> reporter: -- and florida's marco rubio, this will be a tea party-infused congress, not so be-holden to the republican leadership. >> this election is not an embrace of the republican party. it is a second chance to be about principle and values. >> i'm begging for republican input and i hope we'll get some of it. >> reporter: and republicans will still have to deal with a democratic senate. still run by the seemingly invincible harry reid. >> because of you, we did it. thank you.

>> and john, what about sarah palin, current scorecard on the candidates she endorsed? >> reporter: well, she had some really big wins last night, diane. there was, of course, suzanna martinez, winning governorship in new mexico, nikki haley winning the governorship in south carolina, rand paul in kentucky. those were all republicans she endorsed in competitive republican primaries and went on to win and win pretty big. but there were some notable losses. first and foremost, christine o'donnell in delaware. palin defied the party leadership, endorsed o'donnell, helped her win that nomination, and she lost, and of course lost big. and the big one, diane, in her own backyard, we still don't know the results, but she supported joe miller again in defiance of the republican leadership and now if you look at that, miller is trailing behind write-in candidate, that would be lisa murkowski, but they still have to count the votes and we may have to wait to see if palin had any pull in her backyard. >> that's a long wait. thank you, jon karl. and, of course, you mentioned

john boehner, anticipating becoming speaker. and, there is probably no name that emerged in this campaign more polarizing or potent than that of the current speaker, nancy pelosi. her determined passage of health care reform and so much other bold legislation with only democratic votes earned her a kind of bulls eye from the tea party attacks. well, tonight, the first woman to become speaker in american history is at a cross roads. she is a laser-focused 70-year-old mother and grandmother, and we sat down with her today to look forward and to look back. the president used the word shellacking in the press conference. what's the first word that comes to your mind? >> i would say a very disappointing result. not being as colorful as he is in that description. but it was -- it was a tough loss. >> reporter: what did the president say to you and you to him? >> well, i don't usually discuss my conversations with the president, but you can just imagine that it was a call in

which -- i had spoken to him twice yesterday, early in the day and then in the evening, and we expressed pride in the work that we had done. sadness over the loss of the members who would not be returning. >> reporter: no regrets? >> no regrets, because we believe we did the right thing and we worked very hard in our campaigns to convey that to the american people. >> reporter: the talk about repealing health care -- >> yeah. >> reporter: talking about taking it apart, bit by bit so it is unrecognizable -- that was the word they used -- >> well, that would be most unfortunate. i don't -- i don't think they're going to take health care apart. there are certain parts that we all may want to review. when we have this debate, piece by piece, i think the american people will see how they like pieces of it and how they relate to each other. >> reporter: what are you going to do next? >> first of all, today, i'm talking to my members who courageously fought the fight, carried the banner, took the tough votes. that's what i'm doing today, when i'm toward the end of doing

that, i'll start thinking about what i do next, but it's never been about me. >> reporter: the president said he was sad. it was sad. and for you? sad, bruising? >> well, it's sad, in terms of my colleagues who won't be coming back. for me, i'm a professional. >> reporter: never felt it? you didn't feel -- >> well, i felt it for my colleagues, i felt it for the american people, because i do believe that there is a distinction. so i believed that there was a lot at stake -- >> reporter: we all have to talk to ourselves in moments when it feels bruised. when it feels rough. >> well, let me tell you, when i get time for that, i'll call you and i'll let you know how it feels. because, first of all, i haven't had a moment alone to even think about myself. it's about how our caucus goes forward to continue our fight for the middle class. >> reporter: are the odds you'll stay? >> as i said to you, in our caucus, we always do things by consensus.

and when we'll have that consensus, we'll have some announcement to make. >> reporter: and do you feel you would have the support to be minority leader? >> as i said, when we -- i don't want to speak for my caucus at this time. >> reporter: what's the best thing about john boehner? >> well, i hope john boehner will be the speaker in a way that he leads. i hope that he's not held back by the slowest ship. we always say around here, you have a convoy theory, that the whole congress will go as slow as the slowest ship. well, the american people are waiting for jobs, can't have that convoy theory. >> reporter: it's a high school question, but do you like him? >> of course. yes. we've had a good rapport. as i did with president bush. i'm always very respectful of my colleagues and the people they represent. >> reporter: looking at what happened last night, will president obama win in 2012? >> i believe that barack obama will serve eight years as president of the united states.

i believe that he will also demonstrate to the american people, and he has, that what we had to do in the short-term is because we had an emergency situation. some people interpreted that as too activist. but it was emergency, and it saved us from a depression. >> reporter: you've talked about the marble ceiling. and i would like to show you a moment. >> tonight, i have the high privilege and honor of my own as the first president to begin the state of the union message with these words. madame speaker. >> that was nice of him to do. >> in his day, the late congressman thomas d'alesandro jr. from baltimore, maryland, saw presidents roosevelt and truman here. but nothing could compare with the sight of his only daughter

nancy presiding tonight as speaker of the house of representatives. congratulations. >> so nice of him. so lovely. he said, i have a surprise for you. >> reporter: looking back, you've said, this will not be a footnote. >> it is not a footnote. well, being the first woman speaker is breaking the marble ceiling is pretty important. i relish that, i treasure it. but it -- it was in its time and place and now it's time to move on. >> reporter: i'm going to get my count wrong. five grandchildren? >> oh, no, no, many more. >> reporter: many more. >> many more grandchildren. again, i have to make a decision about what i do next, it certainly weighs in, how my real accomplishment in life is being a mom and a grandmother. >> reporter: how does it weigh in? how does it factor into your decision? >> well, you know, it is -- i keeping we're going to be able to do all these things with me, and they like the idea that i

can do things for the american people, especially for children and they always tell me about poor children and why is it that way, so -- we'll have our conversation, i'll have conversation with my caucus, have a conversation with my family and pray over it and decide how to go forward. but today isn't that day. >> reporter: and if you said one thing to that woman taking that gavel from this vantage point, it would be? >> job well done. but i would also say, we all -- what's really important is for women in politics and government to understand the gratitude we have to those who went before, the responsibility we have to those who come after and i would want women to know that whatever the struggle, it was worth it

and whatever the risk, it is worth it, as well. >> nancy pelosi, about to hand back her gavel. and you're going to meet the man who is going to receive it, meet the son of a bar owner who was emotional about the journey from his roots to this historic week. and, confetti, cart wheels and one memorable night in america. [ female announcer ] wake up time.

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and now minority leader john boehner. we asked ron claiborne to tell us who is this man who will become speaker of the house? >> reporter: for the past four years, john boehner has been the fiery leader of the republican opposition. >> hell no you can't! >> reporter: he's a brash political survivor, who says when he falls down he smiles and only works harder. and when he wins? >> it's a time to roll up our sleeves and go to work. >> reporter: boehner says his work ethic is the result of his humble beginnings. >> i've spent my whole life chasing the american dream. >> reporter: he was born in 1949 in reading, ohio, one of 12 brothers and sisters. the entire family crowded into this two-bedroom home. his parents slept on a pullout couch. >> well, i think you had to learn how to compromise, because we only had one bathroom. >> reporter: when he was just 8 years old, he went to work cleaning the floor of the family bar.

his sister linda still works there today. >> well, their think he's a rich guy that's got this tan, goes to a tanning bed, plays golf all the time, goes to the country club. that's not john boehner. >> reporter: in fact, he is an avid golfer, but he is also the first person in his family to go to college. he worked his way through as a night janitor. >> i put myself through school working every rotten job there was. >> reporter: there he met his wife of 35 years while he was emptying her trash bin. they have two grown daughters lindsay and tricia. after graduating from college, he found a job as a salesman for a small plastics company. he ended up president of the firm. >> i poured my heart and soul into running a small business. >> reporter: he was elected to congress in 1990, and was one of the so-called "gang of seven," freshman republicans who launched an ethics crusade against veteran house members. >> i believe we ought to have full disclosure. >> reporter: and now, the veteran republican operator will face a new group of reformers, a

wave of members who have to come to change the way washington does business, again. ron claiborne, abc news, new york. >> it is an immensely powerful post. and tomorrow, i will be sitting down to question the man himself, john boehner, the first major network interview with the incoming speaker of the house. and coming up, $600 billion to save the economy? a bold new plan. but will it work? so now, i can join the fun and games with my grandchildren. great news! for people with copd, including chronic bronchitis, emphysema, or both, advair helps significantly improve lung function. while nothing can reverse copd, advair is different from most other copd medications because it contains both an anti-inflammatory and a long-acting bronchodilator, working together to help you breathe better. advair won't replace fast-acting inhalers for sudden symptoms and should not be used more than twice a day. people with copd taking advair

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a bold new plan to get the economy moving announced today. the federal reserve announcing it will buy $600 billion worth of treasury bonds. economists say the plan will lower interest rates and make it cheaper to borrow and spend. and that, they hope, will spur corporate america to hire again. but to do it, the central bank will have to print new money. there was joy in the streets of san francisco today. tens of thousands of fans turning out, finally, to get their toast to the world series champion giants in a downtown ticker tape parade. one fan called it christmas, new years and your first born all rolled into one. the first world series title for the team in 56 years. and, jerry bock, the composure that gave everyone "fiddler on the roof" has died. ♪ sunrise sunset ♪ sunrise sunset >> reporter: jerry bock, who wrote those songs, was 81 years old.

and, coming up, the candidates do cart wheels. a snapshot of a pivotal night in america. most people like to hear they've done a great job caring for their teeth. that's why there's a rinse like crest pro health complete. it's a more complete way to a better dental check-up. giving you a clean, healthy mouth. new crest pro health complete rinse. this holiday, do you really want to cut corners by using a broth with msg? swanson chicken broth has no added msg.

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[ male announcer ] every day thousands of people are switching from tylenol to advil. to learn more and get your special offer, go to takeadvil.com. take action. take advil. and that long day yesterday was filled with so many memorable moments, we thought we'd give you a kind of scrapbook. here's john berman.

>> reporter: it was a night of cartwheels -- confetti -- and contrition. >> and what a journey i've had. >> reporter: with defiance in victory. >> we've come to take our government back. >> today, nevada chose hope over fear. >> reporter: and defiance in defeat. >> make no mistake, you haven't heard the last of carl paladino. >> reporter: yes, that's a bat he's holding. a night of history for a son of cuban exiles. and a daughter of indian immigrants. >> now it's our turn and we get to start working for you. >> reporter: a reminder that candidates are sisters. >> i've never seen my brother cry. >> reporter: sons. and fathers. >> it was really tough for me, going around with my wife. >> and me, and mommy.

>> reporter: america's biennial statement that votes do matter. >> i have something money can't buy. i have you. >> reporter: and dreams can come true. >> guess what? i'm going to be governor of ohio. >> reporter: and now our dreams are in the hands of a bartender's kid from ohio, the son of a single mom, in the middle of a storm of new faces. john berman, abc news, new york >> and their families give so much, too. we'll be reporting again from washington tomorrow night. until then, have a great evening. the unlikely heroes of the world series anthem. "don't stop believing".

>> today, hundreds of thousands of giants fans celebrated the fact they didn't. >> and this is the greatest state to be in now. and this for san francisco. >> and it was for their city and for their friends, what a remarkable day. >> filled with excitement, a sense of team, community pride. starting with a parade moving on market street. 700 people were part of the parade. people connected to the team in the city in some official way. >> more than 100,000 people were waiting for the official ceremony and a chance to hear from player autos now, for wayne freedman with z.let's begin our coverage there tonight. >> hello carolyn. today this very same place, the roar of the crowd. and now there is a d